Dr. Murthy’s Confirmation as Surgeon General Win for Nation, Loss for NRA

Brady Sees Gun Violence as a Public Health Crisis

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Dr. Vivek Murthy as the nation’s next Surgeon General. The confirmation vote had been delayed because the National Rifle Association (NRA) has opposed Dr. Murthy’s appointment and said they would “score” the vote, meaning the vote will be considered in “future candidate ratings and endorsements by the NRA Political Victory Fund.”

“This is a huge victory for Brady and for the public health and safety of our nation. Now we have a Surgeon General who recognizes that gun violence is a serious public health issue that America urgently needs to address,” said Dan Gross, President, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “This victory represents a major triumph over the corporate gun lobby ‘lap dogs’ in the Senate who fought to defeat Dr. Murthy’s confirmation on behalf of their billion-dollar benefactors.”

The NRA previously opposed the successful confirmation of Todd Jones as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Gross adds, “Dr. Murthy’s confirmation is part of an exciting, growing trend of victories for the American public over the interests and influence of the corporate gun lobby. In the recent elections, the voters of Washington state demonstrated where the American public stands on this issue by overwhelmingly passing expanded background checks. The American people know that gun violence is a public health issue and they support sensible measures to reduce gun deaths and injuries.”

For years, the NRA has opposed measures before Congress related to reducing gun violence, including funding research related to gun violence and collecting data on guns used in crimes. The NRA also advocated for legislation in Florida prohibiting doctors from discussing guns and with their patients.

“There is no question gun violence is a public health crisis, killing over 2,700 youth annually,” added Gross. “Gun violence claims the lives of seven American youth every day, more than cancer or heart disease. We hope Dr. Murthy’s confirmation will bring this public health crisis to the forefront of America’s policy agenda.”

Dr. Murthy's nomination received broad support from more than 50 organizations in the medical and public health communities, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, the New England Journal of Medicine, the American Public Health Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Diabetes Association. National gun violence prevention organizations including the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence have been pushing for his confirmation.

Recently, the Brady Center released a report, “The Truth About Kids & Guns,” detailing how most youth gun deaths involve a gun from or in a home, including school shootings, unintentional shootings, or suicides. To combat this problem, Brady has recently launched a multi-platform public awareness campaign for a future where no child is killed by a family member’s gun. The campaign includes digital advertisements and a public service announcement.

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The mission of the Brady organization is to create a safer America for all of us that will lead to a dramatic reduction in gun deaths and injuries. For more insight on gun violence prevention, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BradyBuzz.